Suddenly, the horse and its rider appeared, and I relaxed my muscles, putting my weapons away. I slipped back to the ground without a sound, sticking the landing. A wide smile grew on my face as I called out to the horseman. "Glorfindel!"

The elf turned to the sound of my voice and smiled back. "Íverin! I've been looking all over for you!" He jumped off his horse and ran to me, and I embraced him. "Lord Elrond requests you come back home at once." He went back to his horse, his pale hair shining in the last of the sun's rays. I climbed up onto the proud white animal, and Glorfindel sat in front of me. With a flick of the reins, we were off, weaving through the trees at an astonishing speed. The wind whipped through my hair.

"Why did he call me back? Have Estel and the Halflings been found?" I asked him.

"Yes!" he replied. "Lady Arwen brought the Ring-bearer across the Ford this afternoon! He has been badly wounded, and by one of the Nazgûl, no less."

I gasped. "Oh, no! Is he alright?"

Glorfindel shook his head as the trees suddenly disappeared and we sped across the river Loudwater. "He has fallen into blackness. They were being tracked by all of the Nine, and they managed to stab him with one of their swords. That is all I know." As he slowed his horse down once we were on the other side of the river, he turned his head around to look at me. "How long have you been searching for them?"

"Twelve days," I said. "I never found a trace of them. Did you?" Glorfindel and Arwen were the other two that Elrond had sent out to find the traveling party.

He shook his head, and the horse climbed the bank. "I did not, either. I was searching in the south, though I did not expect them to come from that direction."

I laughed. "Then why did you search there?"

"Lord Elrond's orders. And I certainly can't afford to defy him, of all people."

It was then that we finally came into view of the magnificent realm of Imladris. The buildings and houses were made of smooth stone and carved wood, but the way they fit into the valley so perfectly made it seem like they grew up out of the earth themselves. The aura surrounding the place was that of happiness, singing, magic, and laughter. The sparkling waterfall that fed the hungry, wide river below it. The largest building, the House of Elrond, looming beautifully in the distance. The trees and flowers and life that grew here...it was amazing. Every time I walked back into it after spending a day in the woods, I was awed, no matter how many times I laid eyes on it.

As soon as we passed over the bridge leading over the river Loudwater, I jumped down from Glorfindel's horse and ran into Elrond's home. Not a moment after I set foot inside, I saw a familiar face, and my heart leapt with joy. "Estel!" I cried.

He turned around and grinned. "Íverin." I ran to him, and we hugged each other tightly. Estel was tall, much taller than I, and he had dark, wavy hair that framed his face and reached down to his chin. His eyes were a blue-grey, and a scruffy dark beard grew on his chin.

"I've missed you so much, cousin," I said.

"And I have missed you as well." He let me go and ruffled my hair. "Were you tracking us as well?"

I nodded. "Yes, but you were too sneaky and swift for me, it seems. Arwen found you first."

His smile disappeared. "Just in time, too. I was beginning to think we'd lost him. In fact, I still do." He looked worried.

I put a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "I heard about the Ring-bearer. Is he...did he..."

Estel sighed. "I don't know. He could very well be dead, as Arwen says he went unconscious just after she got him across the river. Lord Elrond is healing him as we speak."

"Well, could I still visit the Halfling? I would very much like to meet him, or at least see him before he dies. If he dies," I said, glancing up at my cousin. A flicker of doubt was in his eyes. "Estel." He looked up at me. "Don't be troubled. There is always hope, no matter what." I smiled.

He smiled back. "You always did have a gift for seeing the bright side of things," he said quietly. Turning away, he then called to me. "Come, Íverin. You will have to ask Elrond if you may still see young Frodo. But first, I shall take you to someone else you would like to see." He led me upstairs and into a section of the House that was for guests. The walls were all a pale cream color, and at the end of one hall, outside a door, there stood another tall man in grey robes, with a long, lighter grey beard.

I beamed and ran up to him. "Gandalf!" I cried as I wrapped my hands around his waist.

He put a hand on my back. "Ah, Íverin. I was beginning to wonder when I would see you again. You're late," he said with a wink.

I laughed. "And you're not?"

Gandalf just shook his head, and I knew what was coming next. "A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He-"

"...arrives precisely when he means to. I know, I know." I laughed again, and Gandalf and Estel laughed with me. Suddenly, my smile faded, as I remembered the danger. "How is the Halfling?" I asked, looking up into the old wizard's deep blue eyes. "Is he alive?"

The man I had loved like a grandfather all my life closed his eyes, and let out a breath. "I do not know, Íverin. He was stabbed by a Morgul blade."

My eyes widened. I felt like a small child in the presence of the old man again. "But...can...can Lord Elrond not heal him?"

"He is trying," said Gandalf quietly. "All we can do now is wait, and pray that he will be spared." He gave me a reassuring smile. "Worry not. The first thing you should do is change out of those clothes, my dear."

I blushed. I had forgotten the fact that I was still in my worn-down travel wear. "Oh...yes! Yes, I think I'll do that now." I gave Gandalf one last squeeze and darted down the hallways to my own private guest room.

Stepping in, I went straight to the closet and pulled out the first gown I saw. It was a very simple dress, all in the same shade of a pale green. It had no sleeves, just two small off-shoulder straps, and a small bunch of pearls that was pinned at my left hip. I quickly washed myself in my private bathroom and donned the dress, along with a pair of silver slippers that were hidden from the long gown.

Once I had combed through my hair, I looked into the full-body mirror that hung from the wall near my bed. I was not particularly tall or curvy, but I was skinny and as healthy as could be. My brown hair was shorter than most elf-maidens, as it only flowed to just past my shoulders. My bangs were always swept off to one side, and my face was fair. I had a light complexion, but a bit darker than most elves I knew, who always seemed to be so pale.

Nodding with satisfaction, I stepped back out into the hallway and began to take a walk around the massive place where Lord Elrond and his children resided. Eventually I reached the gardens in the back of the complex, and was absentmindedly walking through an open area of grass, staring at the ground, when I heard a voice from nearby.

"Look, Merry! It's an Elf!"

Startled, I snapped my head up to see two small creatures with large, hairy feet sitting on a bench several yards away from me. One of them had reddish hair and bright blue eyes, and he wore a deep blue shirt with dark green pants that came down a bit past his knees. The other was blonde with greenish-blue eyes, and wore a white puffy shirt with a yellow vest, and brown pants similar to his companion's. Neither of them wore any shoes, and their ears were pointed, similar to mine.

The blonde one spoke. "Now look what you've done, Pip. You've scared her!"

I smiled and walked over to them. "It's quite alright," I said calmly. "Not everyday do a couple of Halflings get to see an elf-maiden in person, right?"

The redheaded one frowned. "Elf-maiden? Is that how you say 'girl' here?"

I laughed. "Yes, I guess you could say that." I curtsied. "My name is Íverin, adopted niece of Lord Elrond." Their eyes widened. "And who might these two dashing young Halflings be before me?"

The one with the blonde hair blushed a bit and stood up. "I'm Meriadoc Brandybuck. Merry to my friends." He bowed. "It is an honor to meet you, my lady." There was a moment of silence, and then Merry reached over and nudged his friend. "Introduce yourself!"

"Oh! Well, hullo, Lady Íverin! I'm Peregrin Took, but you can call me Pippin. Or Pip. Whatever you'd like."

I smiled. "Well met, Merry and Pippin. And what are you two doing out here, if I may ask?"

"Well," said Pippin, "we were waiting for Frodo to wake up, but he's been sleeping in a room upstairs for hours. Merry and I thought we might have a look around."

"The garden is a lovely place to start," I nodded. "There's so much to look at!"

"You're telling me," said Merry. "It's so beautiful here! I almost don't want to leave."

I frowned. "Oh, but you can't think about leaving yet! You've only just arrived!"

"I know, but Sam said we'd be shoving off soon once Frodo is ready to go home."

" We live in the Shire, and it's quite far away, and Sam thinks we should get a good head start before the winter sets in. Wouldn't want to be caught out there in the cold," Pippin said as he looked out to the vast expanse of wilderness to the west.

"That is true," I said, "but even so! None can spend only a day in the fair land of Rivendell and leave satisfied. You must explore more!" I extended a hand to both of them. "Come with me! I have much to show you."

The two Halflings looked at each other for a moment, and then each took a hand. I smiled and lead them around the gardens and the House of Elrond, showing the all the secrets and tricks I had learned from exploring the place myself when I was an elfling. By the time we had gone back to the guest hallway, it was getting late, and the boys were tired. Pippin was yawning through every other sentence.

"Well," said Merry, sounding just as sleepy, "as much fun as this has been, we should be heading off to bed. Goodnight, Íverin!" He dragged Pippin and himself down to the room next to where Gandalf had been standing earlier. I smiled and slipped into my own bedroom nearby, gazing at the stars outside my window as I changed into a silken nightgown, slipped into my bed, and let the warmth of sleep envelop me.